A day for prayers, festivities around the UAE

Even as the roads wore a deserted look on Eid morning on Friday, the festivities were in full swing within the households of Muslims across the country.

Beginning from the early morning congregational prayers, expats were seen busier than ever, getting sacrificial meat in place, sending their dressed up kids to meet and greet neighbours and also distributing meat within the neighbourhood. The women of the house called it "one of the busiest day of the year" as it had to do not only with cooking but also distributing the sacrificial meat and also inviting people over for lavish Eid lunches and dinners.

Indian expats Faisal Rashid and Qurratulain Tayyaba Jafri, who call Dubai a home away from home, said they are grateful to God for having given them a big family of friends here who keep the occasion festive for them.

"Although the lucrative getaway deals to nearby destinations and entertainment programmes in malls are too tempting, my husband and I come from families where Eid festivities last all three days with relatives, friends and colleagues coming to the house," Tayyaba said.

Tayyaba and Faisal, as parents, hope to keep this occasion as real, traditional and festive for their children (Abdullah and Hamza) as their parents did for them, from new clothes, hosting and visiting people to the most important of all, Eidi (money youngsters get from elders on Eid). "We encourage our children to save up and buy something nice with their money.

"Eid Al Adha is also a time for introspection. Great emphasis has been laid on the concept of sacrifice and it's important that we sacrifice our pride, false ego and attachment to material possessions."

For Pakistani expat Sofia Kulsoom, 24, the Eid Al Adha excitement begins days well in advance. Sofia, who is known for her excellent cooking skills, planned a lavish menu for the festival day. "Eid breakfast at my house is very special, since I love cooking, I decide the Eid menu for our house. For breakfast, we had chana puri, halwa puri along with Kashmiri chai (tea). For lunch, I made mutton Biryani, mutton korma, chicken karahi and achari baingan just to name a few."

Sofia got up at 4.30am in excitement to catch up the Eid prayers with her parents and sisters at Mankhool Eid musalla. "I love the feeling of meeting so many people at the Eid prayers. Eid just brings everyone closer. As I exchanged salaam and Eid greetings with people I knew and also strangers, I could feel the bond with the whole community and it just feels beautiful. Eid is also the time when my nephews and nieces enjoy the most and for them, this Eid means a lot since they love going to the local abattoir and seeing everyone buy animals for sacrifice."

In Abu Dhabi, the day started with prayers at mosques and the faithful who gathered there greeted each other with 'Eid Mubarak'.

Then it was time for sacrifice and Mina Meat Market was a busy place.

Imran Khan, an Abu Dhabi resident, was among the many who distributed meat to blue-collar workers.

"Eid is a festival to share and care for others. This is a special day for Muslims. For me this is Bakrid. And any well-off man should see to it that a poor isn't left unfed," Khan said after purchasing meat from the market. "This is our religious custom."

The afternoons saw families get together over feast.

Naseer Aziz, a chef, prepared biryani for his roommates.

"I always cook for others but today our restaurant is shut and I got an opportunity to serve my roommates. They are my family away from my actual family," Aziz said.

The festival was celebrated by non-Muslims too with equal fervour.

"We had a lunch get together of friends and family. The party continued at Marina Mall. These are the few days of holidays which will help us to be relaxed. Otherwise it's too much of work. It's important that we teach our children to celebrate each festival," Vishal Pandey, a marketing manager at a private firm, said.

Then there were people like Ahmed Jefrrey who left for Muscat to enjoy rest of the days.

"It was long planned trip. My relative flew down here for last Eid and now we will be there in Oman," Jefrrey said.

The day also saw social and cultural associations hold programmes.

The Indian Social and Cultural Centre held musical show 'Eid Mehfil'. The celebrations will be followed with a biryani feast on Saturday. Similar activities marked the festivities at Indian Islamic Centre.

Malls too held many programmes to keep up the festive spirit and by the evening each centre was buzzing with people. Eid activities at all the malls will continue till Sunday.

Source: Khaleej Times